Senior YSR leader Butta Renuka is all set to join the Telugu Desam Party.

In a major setback to YSR Congress, its senior leader MP Butta Renuka from Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh is all set to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Renuka is representing Kurnool Constituency of Andhra Pradesh in parliament by winning the prestigious seat by a huge margin. She is also the fourth richest MP with assets of over Rs 250 crore in 16th Loka Sabha.

After the election Renuka's husband Butta Neelakantam, who is chairman and managing director of Butta Group, had joined the ruling Telugu Desam Party in the state, however, Renuka continued her support to opposition YSR Congress Party.

But recently she expressed displeasure over YSR party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's after the principal opposition party lost the Nandyal bypolls under Kurnool Loksabha consultancy.

Sources say that the stunning defeat forced Renuka to approach the ruling TDP in the state and after a meeting with party's general secretary Nara Lokesh who happens to be cabinet minister in state governments and son of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, she decided to join the yellow party in the state.

So far 21 YSR Congress party legislatures have joined the ruling party in the state in the last three years.

MANY MORE FOLLOW SUIT

Apart from MLAs, two Lok Sabha MPs SPY Reddy and Kottapalli Geeta and several senior leaders have already deserted the party with a 'fan' symbol preferring a ride on 'bicycle' symbol of TDP.

Sources say at least 10 more MLAs and 3 MPS are also in touch with the leadership of ruling party as they feel Party is not going to perform in next election though it has hired Prashant Kishore's (PK) Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) for strategising and ensuring win in 2019 election.

''The recent defeat in Nandyal by election which is believed to be the party stronghold has also creates panic among the leaders of YSR Congress,'' said a source who is aware about the development.

MASSIVE CAMPAIGN

The opposition party chief YS Jagan is scheduled to undertake a statewide massive six month long 3,000 KM 'Padayatra' starting from November 2 and sources say the fear of Party Leader deserting him has forced him to conduct one-on-one meetings with the leaders addressing and assuring them.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress has alleged that unable to face the people in wake of the growing anti-incumbency factor, TDP chief and Chief Minister Chandrababau Naidu desperately resorting to poaching of MLAs and MPs so that he can remain in power.